“A Man on the Inside."

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“A Man on the Inside” (Netflix) comedy, based on Maite Alberdi's 2020 documentary “The Mole Agent.” The docu, which was nominated at the 93rd (2021) Academy Awards for Best Documentary Feature, was about a private investigator who hired an elderly man to go undercover in a nursing home in El Monte, Chile to investigate alleged mistreatments committed by the staff.



       “A Man…” is set in a San Francisco nursing home, Pacific View Retirement Community. Ted Danson is Charles, a widower and retired engineering college professor who takes a job as an investigative assistant for a private detective to go undercover.

       The plot doesn't really move me but this is a fine exhale respite from my usual watchlist of political thrillers and police procedurals. And Mr Danson carries the show all throughout, avoiding the melodrama to slip to mawkish sappiness and silly, comedic yarns. 

       After all, this is a project of Michael Schur, who gave us the brilliant “Parks and Recreation,” ridiculously riotous “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” and the colorful (literally!) “The Good Place.” Good exhales that are littered and adorned by fine performances.

       And, by the way, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, we know her as The Waitress in another ridiculously funny thingy, “It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia” has a name here: Emily, daughter of Charles. Just saying. 🎥📺📽

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